Anthrax
from:
US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health , MedlinePlusAnthrax
from:
National Institutes of Health National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseaessAnthrax
from: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases (DFBMD)

Bacillus cereus and other Bacillusspp.

Disease it CausesDiarrhea or Vomiting (rice products)

Food: meats, milk, vegetables, and fish have been associated with the diarrheal type.

Rice products.

Incidence: In 1981, 8 outbreaks were reported which primarily involved rice and shellfish.

Population: all.

Fried rice is a leading cause of B. cereus emetic-type food poisoning in the United States.

Travelers to Latin America or Middle East, where disease is endemic
in dairy animals.

In 1954, Brucella suis became the first biological agent to be weaponized by the U.S..

Brucellosisfrom: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Campylobacter jejuni

Disease it CausesCampylobacteriosis

Food: especially raw or undercooked chicken and raw milk

Incidence:the leading cause of bacterial diarrheal illness in the U. S.

Population:: most affects children less than 5 years old and young adults 15 to 29 years old.

The bacterium is fragile. In the environement it does not survive it does not do well in dry conditions, and can be killed by oxygen.

Campylobacteriosisfrom:
National Institutes of Health National Institute of Alergy and Infectious DiseaessCampylobacterfrom: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases (DFBMD)

Due to widespread immunization, tetanus is now rare in the U.S Booster immunization against tetanus is recommended every 10 years. A new combination vaccine, called Tdap, protects against tetanus, diphtheria and
pertussis.

Coxiella is resistant to heat, drying, and many disinfectants, making it able to survive for long periods in environment.

Considered by the US government as a possible agent for bioterrorism.

Q Feverfrom: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Disease it CausesDiphtheria

Direct physical contact.

Aerosolized secretions of infected individuals.

Incidence: rare
between 1980 and 2004 there were 57 reported cases of diphtheria in US.

Population: Children under 5 and adults over 60 years old are more at risk. People living in crowded or unclean conditions, those who aren't well nourished, and children and adults who don't have up-to-date immunizations are also at risk.

Diphtheria poses a threat to U.S. citizens who may not be fully immunized and who travel to other countries or have contact with immigrants or international travelers coming to the United States.

Diphtheria
from: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

EnterohemmorrhagicE. coli 0157:H7(EHEC)

Disease it CausesHemorrhagic colitis
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)

Food: Undercooked or raw hamburger, lettuce, sprouts.

Water: accidental ingestion of water contaminated with fecal material.

Direct contact with infected individual.

Incidence: not common.

Population: all, but children and the elderly more likely to progress to more serious symptoms.

Hemolytic syndrome, or HUS, is one of the most common causes of sudden, short-term kidney failure in children.

HUS develops when the bacteria lodged in the digestive system make toxins that enter the bloodstream and start to destroy red blood cells.

Escherichia colifrom: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases (DFBMD)

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)

Disease it CausesDiarrhea

Food: consumption of raw beef and chicken.

Incidence: sporatic.

Population: countries with poor sanitation practices.

Infants, especially those bottle fed in countries with poor sanitation (suggests water contamination as the source).

Uncertain, probably spread from person to person in respiratory droplets.

Incidence: rare in the U.S. 166 new cases were reported in the U.S. in 2005,

Population: people having close contacts with patients with untreated, active, disease.

Leprosy remains the most misunderstood human infectious disease. It is well established that Leprosy is not highly transmissible, is very treatable, and, with early diagnosis and treatment, is not disabling. Hoever, the stigma associated with the disease still exists.

Direct contact
from vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected partner.

Infected mothers may pass infection to baby as it passes through the birth canal during delivery.

Incidence: In 2004, 330,132 cases of gonorrhea were reported to the CDC.

Population: highest rates among African Americans, 15 to 24 years of age, and women.

Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported bacterial STI in the United States following chlamydia.

Gonorrheafrom: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sexually Transmitted DiseasesGonorrheafrom: U.S National Library of Medicine and National Institues of Health, Medline PlusGonorrheafrom:
National Institutes of Health National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseaess

Neisseria meningitidis

Disease it CausesMeningococcal Disease

Person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions. Close and prolonged contact (e.g. kissing, sneezing and coughing on someone, living in close quarters or dormitories; sharing eating or drinking utensils.

The disease in sub-Saharan Africa, which is known as the “Meningitis Belt”.

Population: increase in chance of invasive disease in people with viral infections, household crowding, chronic illnesses. Also, smokers, college freshmen living in dormitories, U.S. military recruits, travelers to the "Meningitis Belt".

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis.

Although Nesseria meningitidis lives in the noses and throats of 5%-10% of the population it rarely causes serious disease.

Meningitis )Meningococcal Disease)
from: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMeningitisfrom: U.S National Library of Medicine and National Institues of Health, Medline PlusMeningococcal Diseasefrom: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Traveler's Health: Yellow Book

Plesiomonas shigelloides

Disease it Causesgastroenteritis

Food: ingestion of raw shellfish.

Water: drinking contaminated water.

Incidence: rarely reported in U.S.,
cases more common in tropical and subtropical areas.

Population: All
Infants, children and chronically ill people are more likely to experience complications.

Transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) are the primary athropods (vectors) which transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever bacteria in the U.S.

Incidence: about 250–2,000 cases per year in the U.S.

Population: all spending time outdoors, occurs throughout U.S. spring througn fall. Especially in south-Atlantic region of the United States The highest incidence rates have been found in North Carolina and Oklahoma. Although this disease was first discovered and recognized in the Rocky Mountain area, relatively few cases are reported from that area today.

First recognized in 1896. As a result of the disease outbreak the Rocky Mountain Laboratory was established in Hamilton, Montana. This facility is now a part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Laboratory.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Feverfrom: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and PreventionRickettsial Infectionsfrom: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Traveler's Health: Yellow Book

Direct contact with mucus from the nose or throat of persons who are infected.

Contact with infected wounds or sores on the skin.

Incidence: low

Populations: all

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a serious but uncommon bacterial infection.Toxic shock syndrome, which is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, has been associated with the use of tampons probably because types of high-absorbency tampons provided a moist, warm home where the bacteria can thrive.

from: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Disease it Causes

Drug-Resistant Invasive Disease (DRSP)

acute otitis media, pneumonia, bacteremia, or meningitis

Invasive Disease Non-Drug Resistant, in Children Less Than 5 Years of Age (Invasive Pneumococcal Disease).

Close person to person contact.

Incidence: in 2002, the rate of invasive disease was 13 cases per 100,000 in the U.S.

Population: all.

Persons at higher risk are the elderly, children under 2 years old, blacks, American Indians and Alaska Natives, children who attend group day care centers, and persons with underlying medical conditions.

Increased emergence of antibiotic resistance strains is cause for concern.

from: Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Traveler's Health: Yellow Book

Treponema pallidum

Disease it Causes

Syphilis,

Congnital syphilis

Direct contact with a syphilis sore. Sores occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Sores also can occur on the lips and in the mouth. Transmission of the organism occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Pregnant women with the disease can pass it to the babies they are carrying.

Incidence: 36,000 cases of syphilis in 2006 in U.S., including 9,756 cases of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis.

Population: Incidence of P&S syphilis was highest in women 20 to 24 years of age and in men 35 to 39 years of age, men having sex with men.

Population: very young, the debilitated, the very old and persons undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

Chitterlings, also called "chitlins," are a popular dish consisting of the large intestines of swine. It is importaant to practice safe food handling practices to prevent cross-contamination with Yersinia during the preparation of this dish.

Incidence: scattered cases in rural areas of U.S. (average of 10 to 15 persons each year). World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 cases of plague every year worldwide.

Populations: Individuals living in rural southwestern United States where there are populations of prarie dogs. Also, hunters, veterinarians, and those who camp or hike in areas where animals are infected with plague. Domestic cats or dogs can spread the disease to their owners by bringing infected fleas into the home.

The plague epidemic in the 14th century killed more than one-third of the population of Europe within a few years. It was called the Black Death because it turned the skin black.